Page 7 - Full_BritainsTopEmployers_2018

‘There are Case study
43% cultural and Partner material

of people in Britain behavioural
experience upward 15% hurdles once
From social mobility The number of children people have
got a job’
receiving free meals at school
- an indication of poverty -
ground fl oor that went on to enter higher
education in 2014
7%
to glass The percentage of the

UK population that Someone with
ceiling went to an independent or managerial employment 71%
a parent in professional
school; fewer than 1%
went to Oxbridge
is 2.5 times more likely than
someone from a less of barristers went
privileged background to to a private school ,
end up in a professional and 78% went to
29% or managerial university at either Scott Rogers, 20, is a tax associate
at Grant Thornton
of people in Britain job themselves Oxford or Cambridge
experience downward I joined Chelsea Academy sixth form in London
social mobility in 2014 to study for A-levels in economics,
maths and geography. It was at school that
I rst heard about Access Accountancy – an
industry-wide social mobility initiative providing
a week of work experience for young people
Diverse workplaces are becoming the norm o improve social mobility Rachael Millar, head of work them,” says Malcolm Gomersall, from all backgrounds. My parents didn’t attend
but how far up the chain of command T in the workplace, HR and skills policy for the Social diversity and inclusion lead at university, and I received free school meals.
teams are trying to widen
the rm.
I was interested in the accountancy profession,
Mobility Commission, “but there
can people from socially disadvantaged access to those from all are cultural and behavioural Collecting data to measure as I thought there was a lot in there that people
backgrounds hope to ascend? By Seb Murray grounds hope to ascend? Bygrounds hope to ascend? By Seb Murray socioeconomic backgrounds – hurdles that prevent people from the impact of recruitment and my age don’t know about – when I got my
back
back
retention policy is critical to
regardless of educational
getting on once they get in.”
rst pay slip, I had no idea what any of the
attainment, nancial security and The commission’s research improving social mobility in information meant.
social status – by removing hiring found a pay divide of nearly companies. KPMG was the rst I took part in the Access Accountancy
practices that discriminate £7,000, on average, between UK employer to publish detailed scheme at Grant Thornton and enjoyed it, so
against them. people from poorer backgrounds gures on the socioeconomic I applied to join the accounting rm’s School
Accounting rm Grant and their privileged peers, with background of its sta . Leaver Programme. But, due to extenuating
Thornton, for example, has gone the gap highest in nance, at “We don’t stop at whether circumstances at home, I had to take time out
to great lengths to diversify its £13,713. At the BBC, for instance, employees attended a private or of sixth form – and, as a result, I didn’t get the
workforce, including removing 45% of the highest-paid stars state school; we look at whether grades I had hoped for. I assumed I de nitely
academic entry requirements for went to an independent school. they received free school meals, wouldn’t get a job. But by that point, the rm had
its entry-level trainee schemes. The commission says those where their parents went to removed the grade barrier, giving me a way in.
Overall, however, the most from working-class backgrounds university and which professions I joined Grant Thornton as a tax assistant,
privileged people in society “may be less likely to ask for pay they worked in,” says Melanie rather than through the school-leaver route, in
continue to claim the lion’s rises”, and may lack access to Richards, vice-chair of KPMG UK ; September 2016 and spent a year doing basic tax
share of the best jobs, including the networks that can help them 74% of those who responded to work. I learned from a dedicated people manager
in the legal, military, medical gain promotion. KPMG’s workforce survey come who mentored me. The role prepared me to
and journalism professions, So some employers are from a state school . become a tax associate in August 2017.
according to the education deploying strategies to improve As more employers recognise Day-to-day, I help our clients deal with
charity Sutton Trust. For progression and ensure equal that building a more meritocratic insolvency and bankruptcy tax issues. The most
example, 82% of barristers in pay. Grant Thornton assigns the workplace is not only the right enjoyable part of the job is that I’m constantly
the UK went to Oxbridge . 420 trainee recruits that join thing to do, but can provide learning. At Grant Thornton, you can approach
Even once they manage to the accounting rm each year a numerous bene ts, such as any partner with a problem and they will help
land a job, those in minority
addressing skills shortages,
people manager, who provides
you. The biggest challenge is balancing work
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY; MAURO MURGIA Sources: Sutton to progression. “Many we need to ensure that everybody continue to close. “There’s no having worked alongside older peers who have
guidance to help them advance.
the social mobility gap may
with study – the rm provides training – but
groups face unique barriers
“Resources are available, and
question: having people from a
organisations focus on how to
gone through it, I know it is doable. I aspire to
get more people from a more
reach partner in the rm, and I’m con dent
diverse range of backgrounds can
uses them, not just those from
I will get there.
produce better business results,”
diverse range of backgrounds
fee-paying schools who know
Interview by Seb Murray
into their profession,” says
how to make the system work for
says Richards.
Trust; Social Mobility
Commission; Ucas
6 3 February 2018 Be happy! Be happy! 3 February 2018 7
3 February 2018 Be happy!